Friday, April 9, 2010

FP morning post 4/9

Thai protesters occupy TV station, defying state of emergency

Top news: Defying a government-ordered state of emergency, anti-government protesters broke into a satellite TV station on Friday, forcing it to be put back on air. The "red-shirts" -- supporters of ouster Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra -- forced their way past barbed wire and security forces firing water cannons and tear gas to occupy the facility. The station was founded by Shinawatra, though no longer owned by him, and was shut down by authorities yesterday on the grounds that it was inciting violence.

The government declared a state of emergency on Wednesday after protesters briefly occupied parliament. Authorities are finding their orders difficult to enforce as many police are reportedly sympathizing with the protesters. Many of the red-shirts also appear to be armed with weapons seized from police.

One protester told the AP, "We've got the upper hand. But we no longer can claim we are peaceful. I suppose (those who broke into compound) have been emotionally repressed for so long. I'm sure this is such a release for them. This is pay-back time."

Science: South African researchers say they have discovered the remains of a new species of hominid, that lived around 1.9 million years ago.

Asia

Hiding somewhere in the south of the country, Kyrgyzstan's president says he has no plans to resign after being forced out of office by opposition protests this week. U.S. military flights have resumed from Kyrgyzstan's Manas airbase.